Heinrich Benz

City Soapbox is a free lunchtime speaker series in the Perth CBD during Bike Week (March 12-20), aimed at exploring how the old fashioned pushbike can make West Australian communities more liveable, friendlier and successful for everyone – even those who don't ride bikes. WAtoday has partnered with the UWA Bike Club to bring you an opinion piece from each of this week's speakers.

Since its invention in the 19th century, the humble bicycle remains a relatively simple and highly inclusive transport device, suitable for use by almost anyone of any ability and circumstance, whether man or woman, adult or child, rich or poor.

For such an uncomplicated machine, the humble bike stirs much controversy.

Yet for such a low tech and seemingly unthreatening apparatus, bicycles somehow manage to generate significant controversy and anger whenever they enter the public conversation.

But cut through the fist-shaking talkback, editorial ranting and social media outrage, when it comes to the political and public discussion of urban cycling there's a big dirty secret that is rarely heard.

Related Content

That's right folks. It turns out the big hoo-ha about bikes isn't even about cycling after all.

Advertisement

At least, it's not about cycling for the sake of cycling. Rather, it's about mobility and the use of public space.

More deeply, it's about how our choices, if we let them, can create the kind of towns, cities and suburbs that are more productive, more prosperous and far more likely to remain competitive and successful in the future.

Protected bike lanes have been found to significantly reduce traffic-related crash injuries - even in notoriously bike-unfriendly New York.

Far from being about sport and fitness or pandering to a special interest group of enthusiasts, the bicycle is merely a tool that can help make our communities work better for everyone, whether riding a bike, driving a car, walking or taking public transport.

Because the fact is that cities work best when people have a range of transport options at their disposal.

Cities designed around cars - such as Perth - tend to have more dangerous streets.

When cities are designed around the principle of keeping cars happy (as most of Perth is) it makes for more dangerous streets, it gobbles up public funds, stifles street life and promotes inefficient and expensive land use patterns (sprawl). It makes owning and operating a car not so much a personal choice but a necessity for anyone who wishes to have access to all their city has to offer.

And over time, such a system fails for everyone, drivers and non-drivers alike. Brent Toderian, an internationally respected urban consultant and former chief planner for Vancouver puts it this way: "If everyone's driving, nobody's moving."

The good news is that when cities provide for bike riding it brings a myriad of benefits to everyone in the community, and not just those on two wheels.

Chief among the many rewards are safer streets, big financial savings and a more productive use of public space.

Safer streets for all

When a place is made more amenable for riding a bicycle, it makes the streets safer for all whether they're walking, driving, riding a bike or taking public transport. When notoriously bike-unfriendly New York City installed protected bike lanes (which physically separate cars and bicycles) on a major arterial, traffic-related crash injuries fell by 56 percent for all users, not just the people on bikes.

Big financial savings

Compared to costly road projects, bike infrastructure is dirt cheap. The low cost of providing for bike riding means massive financial savings (both to governments and to individuals), while the public health benefits of more people riding bicycles also delivers huge taxpayer savings.

More space for other stuff

The basic principles of geometry show that it's simply not feasible – nor desirable – for everyone to get around by car all the time. Sooner or later you're going to run out of space.

Because bicycles require such a small footprint compared to the significant amount of space needed for cars (both moving and non-moving), providing for bike riding represents a much more efficient and responsible approach to mobility.

As biking becomes a more attractive option for more people (due to improved cycle infrastructure, lower traffic speeds and more compact neighbourhood design), it helps to reduce traffic congestion, ease demand for parking and free up space for other purposes, (yes, possibly even for your car).

Biking is also a boon for local business, boosts street vitality, promotes cleaner air, supports increased social equity and allows greater independence for non-drivers and those burdened with chauffeuring duties.

For such an uncomplicated device, the old fashioned pushbike really packs a punch.

But remember, it's not about cycling for the sake of cycling. It's about what bikes can do to make your town, your suburb and your city better. For everyone.

Heinrich Benz is the former CEO of advocacy group Bicycle Transport Alliance. He will be speaking at the Museum of Perth, Grand Lane (off Murray St mall) from 12noon to 12.45pm, Monday March 14.